Louisa Catherine Adams was the first lady of the United States from 1825 to 1829 during the presidency of her husband John Quincy Adams. She was born in England and raised in France. Her father was an influential American merchant, and she was regularly introduced to prominent Americans. After her family returned to England, she met John Quincy Adams in 1795, and the two began a tenuous courtship. They married in 1797 after being engaged for a year, beginning a marriage of disagreements and personality conflicts. She joined her husband on his diplomatic mission to Prussia, where she was popular with the Prussian court. When they returned to the United States, her husband became a senator and she gave birth to three sons. John was appointed minister to the Russian Empire in 1809, and they traveled to the Russian Empire without their two older sons, against Louisa's wishes.
Boston Janry 28. Assured that a few lines from me will be acceptable to my best beloved friend on his arrival I seize the earliest opportunity of enquiring after his…
St Petersberg Janry 7th 1810 My dear Mother An occasion now offering to write you I sieze it with the utmost pleasure to inform you of our health which has…
St Petersburg May 13 1810 My dear Mother The River being open at length, and the Vessels preparing for their departure, I sieze the earliest opportunity of writing, to assure…
St Petersburg July 19th 1810 As another opportunity offers my dear Mother which I am told is a very safe one I cannot refrain from writing a few lines to…
St Petersburg August 15th 1810 Your letter of the 24th of march, my dear Madam, is but just arrived, and although it was so long before it reached us, it…
St Petersburg Octbr. 12 1810 I recieved your letter my dear Child only a few days since and am charmed to find that George and you are such good boys…
St Petersburg Octbr. 13 1810 In the utmost haste my dear Mother I write you a few lines merely to assure you of the health of the family many thanks…
St Petersburg Octbr. 23d We are now my dear Mother enjoying the delights of a violent Snow storm and I presume this will be the last opportunity of writing by…
Petersburg June 10th 1811 With a mind sorely depressed by the late afflicting intelligence from America and the many additional circumstances which are hourly occurring to encrease the difficulties of…
St Petersburg Sept 2d. 1813 The arrival of Mr Bayard, & Galatin, my dear Madam, has made so little alteration in our situation, that I have little or nothing to…
St Petersburg May 15th. 1814 We had concluded from appearances here that you would be detained some days at Revel, but I did not imagine that your stay would have…
St Petersburg May 19th. 1814. My dear friend Owing to the unfortunate detention of your last letter (that is to say No 2) I lost the opportunity of writing to…
St Petersburg June 13th. 1814 How shall I express my thanks my best beloved friend for you very kind attention. No 8 was put into my hand on my arrival…
St: Petersburg June 24th. 1814 My Dear Friend In the first place I will inform you, as I know how very particular you are, that I have received No 9…
St Petersburg 14 July 1814 My Dear John You cannot think what a disappointment your not writing occasion’d me! I have been weighing and reflecting upon every thing which might…
St Petersburg July 15/3 1814 My best Friend. The heartfelt delight I experienced at the reception of your last favour No. 11 is not to be expressed. there is <…
St Petersburg July 19/7 1814 I write you again my best friend; although I have nothing from you, since your Letter from Amsterdam; to inform you of the arrival of…
St Petersburg August 13th 1814 My Dearest Friend The last time I wrote you I was so excessively fatigued and it was so late that I scarcely know what my…
St. Petersburg August 15 1814 My Dear Friend Your two last favours of the 19 and 22 of July were again deliver’d to me together < , Start deletion, at…
St Petersburg August 19th 1814 I intended writing you a long Letter this evening my best friend but was interupted by a visit from Mr. Harris who had however nothing…
St Petersburg Sept 10 1814 My beloved Friend Your No 28 was deliver’d to me yesterday morning. Your fears of bad news from America in the autumn fill me with…
St Petersburg October 16 1814 My best Friend I had left off writing entirely from the idea that you would have left < , Start deletion, England , End, >…
St Petersburg October 18 1814 My best Friend < , Start deletion, Some how or other , End, > By some mistake I think I misdated my last Letter to…
St Petersburg November 3 1814 My best Friend Although Mr. H.—has informed me that the Congress is dissolved, still I persevere in writing, as it is easy to have my…